Markus Schneider – from Ellerstadt to the world
Markus Schneider makes wine with passion in his hometown of Ellerstadt in the Palatinate region. His easy-drinking wines with distinctive labels are known worldwide, despite or because of their memorable names such as Ursprung, Blackprint, Kaitui, Hullaballo, Tohowabohu, Holy Moly…
In 1994, the newly trained cellarman started with 1 hectare of vineyards. In 2003, the Palatine was named Newcomer of the Year by Feinschmecker magazine, in 2006 he was named Discovery of the Year by the Gault Millau Wine Guide, and in 2013 Markus Schneider received the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Meininger Awards for his entrepreneurial courage and exemplary success. Markus Schneider is the cult German winemaker from Ellerstadt.
Markus Schneider – Winemaker with Passion
Today, his vineyards stretch from Ellerstadt to Kirchheim an der Weinstraße, totaling 95 hectares in the Palatinate, a good 10 in South Africa, and 5.8 on the Moselle.
Visitors to the estate drive along an avenue lined with two striking black cubes that frame the historic estate building, which Markus Schneider acquired in 2005 and converted into a family residence, and which are ultra-modern and always immaculately tidy.
This is where the white wines are made, as well as the reds, the Saigner Rosé, and the Bubbly, Schneider's sparkling wine. Approximately half of the vineyard area is planted with white grape varieties such as Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier, and with red grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Portugieser, and St. Laurent. In the barrel cellar, deep underground, his reserve wines like Syrah mature, which are not released until eight years after harvest.
The foundations for the winemaker's success are his boundless passion for wine and his unwavering pursuit of quality, along with a dash of luck and a good feel for marketing. Perhaps it's "just" the authenticity of the winemaker and his wines!
